Wire

[pls12]

What does everyone use for wire(guage) from transformer to house lights

Where is the best place to buy

I was looking at 24 guage but no one carries it

[cacole]

 This type of wire is usually only available at an electronics supply house, and not someone like Home Depot or Lowe's.  Radio Shack (very expensive), All Electronics, Jameco, Mouser, Digi-Key, or other mail order houses that specialize in electornics and hobbiest supplies are your best bet.

The nearest thing you might find at Home Depot, Wal-mart, etc. would be door bell wire.

[larak]

 Telephone wire comes in 24ga. Bell wire comes in 18 or 20ga, sometimes smaller. How about cat 5 network cable?     You can use whatever is available, and a smaller number means a thicker wire.

Karl

[bobwhitten]

I think 24 gauge wire is too small for house lights. The one thing to remember is that you must keep the voltage reasonably high depending on the current being delivered to the lights. I would suggest 20 gauge for lights (or heavier IF the current warrants it). If you are going to deliver 1 ampere of current for multiple lamps, even 18 gauge might be required to keep the voltage up. If you have not figured out the wiring for lights, you might want to get some help. Bob Whitten

[train18393]

I use stranded speaker wire which I think is stranded 18 ga., but it does come in several different gauges. I buy it in a large spool at Lowes or Home Depot, but it is available many places. It has a clear jacket with the conductors slightly different color, one silver, one more copper color. It also has one side with a couple of ribs on it. You can also use small gauge lamp cord available in a couple of different colors.

Paul

Dayton and Mad River Railroad

[jbinkley60]

I use 18ga thermostat wire from Home Depot for 3 lighting buses, terminate every 6 feet on barrier blocks and then run 24 ga wire to the houses, street lights and yard lights.  You can get 24ga speaker wire at Radio shack, use CAT5 wire or similar.